September 21, 2011
Bestival’s Bacterial Burp-Off
Michael Warwick is an inorganic chemistry PhD student at the University College London, where he researches intelligent window glazings to reduce energy demand from buildings. He tells us about chemical sensors, why E-Noses might help us fight cancer, and how his work brought him to Bestival to invite revelers to burp into a phone.
After a long journey involving taxis, a plane, one train, a car and a ferry, Richard and I arrived at Bestival. Early on Saturday morning we dragged ourselves out of our sleeping bags and headed over to the Tomorrow’s World field to find the Guerilla Science tent, where we would engage with fellow festival goers about science.
What were we going to talk about?
Crudely: burping.
Michael Warwick and Richard Briggs (and the mascot Frank), all looking very smoochable indeed.
Or, more precisely: gas sensing and the use of gas sensor devices for use in portable electronic noses (E-Noses).
September 15, 2011
Bestival: Bacterial Burp-Off
We put e-nose technology to a filthy new purpose: a burping competition. We found out who had the stinkiest breath and the loudest burps with cutting edge chemical sensors that revealed the fetid flora lurking in your larynx.
With Michael Warwick and Richard Briggs from the University College London and microbiologist Joe Latimer from the University of Manchester.
Part of the Wellcome Trust’s gorgeously grimy Dirt season of events.
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